THE stepfather of missing teenager Amy Fitzpatrick has been sent for trial charged with murdering her brother Dean.

Dave Mahon (43) had a book of evidence served on him at Dublin District Court this morning.

He was sent forward to the Central Criminal Court, where he faces trial by judge and jury on a charge of murdering Dean Fitzpatrick, who was fatally stabbed last year.

Judge James Faughnan made the formal order returning him for trial.

It was Mr Mahon's third court appearance on the charge following his arrest last March.

Mr Mahon, a former estate agent with an address at The Crescent, Ongar Village, Clonsilla is accused of murdering Dean Fitzpatrick at Burnell Square Apartments, Northern Cross on the Malahide Road on May 26, 2013.

Dean was fatally stabbed in an apartment in the complex on the night.

Today, a state solicitor said a book of evidence was ready and it was served on Mr Mahon.

Judge Faughnan granted legal aid to include a junior and senior counsel following an application by Mr Mahon's solicitor, Tony Collier.

The accused, wearing a dark grey pinstriped suit with an open-neck white shirt and carrying a walking stick, confirmed his name to the judge when asked.

Judge Faughnan then gave the formal notice that the defendant must provide to the prosecution within 14 days details of any alibi he intends to rely on in the course of his trial.

Mr Mahon's father was in court to stand as independent surety, a requirement of bail conditions already set by the High Court. The accused was sent forward to the present sittings of the Central Criminal Court, on existing bail terms.

Mr Mahon, who lives in Spain with Amy's mother Audrey, had been previously questioned by gardai and released without charge but returned to Ireland in March after being notified that the DPP intended to prosecute him.

On his first court appearance, Detective Garda Brendan Meares said the accused made no reply when he was charged at Coolock Garda Station.

Dean Fitzpatrick, a father-of-one, was rushed to Beaumont Hospital following the stabbing but pronounced dead soon after.

Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis performed the autopsy and concluded that the cause of death was a stab wound to the abdomen.

The Fitzpatrick family is well known, having run a campaign for five years in an effort to progress the search for Amy, who has been missing for six years.

Amy and Dean went to live in Spain in 2004 and were living there with their mother and her partner, Mr Mahon, when Amy went missing.

She was last seen walking home from a friend’s house near Mijas on the Costa del Sol at about 10pm on New Year’s Day 2008.